Steve Hartmann - Listening to the Holy Spirit Toward Loving Your Community

In this inspiring episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast, hosts Omar Niebles and Kelvin Walker sit down with Steve Hartmann, Lead Pastor of Lighthouse Alliance Community Church in Little Egg Harbor, NJ. Steve shares the remarkable 25-year journey of a church that has become deeply woven into the fabric of its community through unexpected ministries born from listening to God's leading.

From a thrift store that employs widows and serves as a ministry hub, to pickleball courts that have connected the church with hundreds in the 55+ community, to hosting high school sports banquets and an annual 5K run that has raised over $130,000 for local athletics—Steve demonstrates how being available to the Holy Spirit can transform a church into a vital center for the community.

Key topics discussed include:

• How organic, Spirit-led ministries prove more fruitful than our best laid strategic programs
• The power of noticing people and meeting practical needs as evangelism
• Creative approaches to financing Kingdom work through community partnerships
• The importance of sowing seeds without demanding immediate church growth
• Practical insights from "The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations" for natural evangelism
• How disasters like Hurricane Sandy are able to become avenues for establishing and building long-term community trust

This conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for churches of any size seeking to expand their gospel footprint through authentic community engagement. Steve's non-traditional path to ministry provide a refreshing perspective on how God prepares and uses willing servants to reach their communities in unexpected ways.

Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and anyone passionate about seeing the church become a beacon of hope through practical love and service.